Deregulation of cytokine- and growth factor signaling due to altered expression of endogenous regulators is well recognized in prostate and other cancers. Suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) is a key regulator of growth hormone, IGF and prolactin signaling, that have been implicated in carcinogenesis. In this study we elucidate expression pattern and functional significance of SOCS2 in prostate cancer (PCa). Protein expression analysis employing tissue microarrays from two independent patient cohorts revealed significantly enhanced expression in tumor compared to benign tissue as well as association with Gleason score and disease progression. In vitro and in vivo assays uncovered the involvement of SOCS2 in the regulation of cell growth and apoptosis. Functionally, SOCS2 knockdown inhibited prostate cancer cell proliferation and xenograft growth in a CAM assay. Decreased cell growth after SOCS2 downregulation was associated with cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. In addition, we prove for the first time that SOCS2 expression is significantly elevated upon androgenic stimulation in androgen receptor-positive cell lines, providing a possible mechanistic explanation for high SOCS2 levels in PCa tissue. Consequently, SOCS2 expression correlated with androgen receptor expression in malignant tissue of patients. Taken together, our study linked increased SOCS2 expression in PCa with a pro-proliferative role in vitro and in vivo.
SOCS2 correlates with malignancy and exerts growth-promoting effects in prostate cancer.
Treatment, Time
View SamplesAging is a major risk factor for both genetic and sporadic neurodegenerative disorders. However, it is unclear how aging interacts with genetic predispositions to promote neurodegeneration. Here we investigate how partial loss-of-function of TBK1, a major genetic cause for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) comorbidity, leads to age-dependent neurodegeneration. We show that TBK1 is an endogenous inhibitor of RIPK1 and the embryonic lethality of Tbk1-/- mice is dependent on RIPK1 kinase activity. In aging human brains, another endogenous RIPK1 inhibitor, TAK1, exhibits a marked decrease in expression. We show that in Tbk1+/- mice, the reduced myeloid TAK1 expression promotes all the key hallmarks of ALS/FTD, including neuroinflammation, TDP-43 aggregation, axonal degeneration, neuronal loss and behavior deficits, which are blocked upon inhibition of RIPK1. Thus, aging facilitates RIPK1 activation by reducing TAK1 expression, which cooperates with genetic risk factors to promote the onset of ALS/FTD. Overall design: mRNA profiles of primary microglia derived from 2-day old wild type (WT), Tbk1+/-, Tbk1+/-;Ripk1D138N/D138N, Tak1?M/+, Tbk1+/-;Tak1?M/+ and Tbk1+/-;Tak1?M/+;RIpk1D138N/+ mice were generated by bulk RNA sequencing, in triplicate.
TBK1 Suppresses RIPK1-Driven Apoptosis and Inflammation during Development and in Aging.
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